The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2024 season didn't have the ending that Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin had hoped for. Khan has spent his first two years as the general manager focusing on bringing in young talent on the offensive line - using the Steelers’ top picks in the first two years on Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu, and Zach Frazier. He even found a gem in the fourth round in Mason McCormick who saw a lot of action this season with the injury of James Daniels ending his season early. These linemen are not only talented, but fits Tomlin's vision of hard-nose football in the trenches. These young studs has Ben Roethlisberger believing these guys are just going to get better.
Roethlisberger on his podcast Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, really likes what Khan has built in the last two years. He does see the mistakes that they made this season, but with the injuries and having that many young linemen starting, it's to be expected.
"I really do like the line that we have," said Roethlisberger. "I think they are going through some growing pains. We've had injuries this year, our first round pick got injured, so that's a killer, but what you had from our rookie center, he's only going to get better and that's going to be huge in a leadership standpoint."
Roethlisberger was very impressed with the two rookies, especially Frazier who was thrusted into starting role earlier than anticipated. To him, the offensive line needs a leader within that unit and he challenges Frazier to step into that role in his second year.
"He is going to need to step up as a vocal leader of that team and that group because that group is the one unique unit that always rides together, they die together," said Roethlisberger. "So you need a leader in that group and you need a guy and the center kind of sometimes is just that naturally. I think you got guys that's played a lot this year, played well, that's tough, that wants to be out there and I think that he just naturally needs to step up as a leader next year."
High praises from Roethlisberger who played with Maurkice Pouncey, who is viewed as one of the top centers to ever come through Pittsburgh. The Steelers have been trying to find the best center to fill the shoes of Pouncey since his retirement in 2021, but with failed projects like Mason Cole and Kendrick Green, they couldn't find the right fit. That was until they drafted Frazier in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft and after some struggles in the preseason, he looked like seasoned veteran as the year went on.
With Frazier and McCormick having multiple starts this past season, expectations will be higher for them. They proved they truly do crave contact and want to punish defenders each play. Fautanu is itching to prove the same thing next season after recovering from his knee injury that he sustained earlier this season. With Dan Moore most likely moving on in free agency, there’s a chance the coaching staff will finally move Jones into his natural position, giving the right tackle reigns to their 2024 first round pick. With the struggles the line had at the end of the year protecting the quarterback, they will be expected to take a massive step forward with the amount of talent that is in that unit.
Steelers' Offensive Line Has A Bright Future Ahead Of Them
The Steelers' 2025 offensive line is projected to have four players on rookie contracts. While to some, the lack of experience could be concerning -- it doesn't bother Roethlisberger. The young core showed that they belong and can be a top unit in the NFL. While the end of the season didn't look pretty for them, this is a motivated group that has a high ceiling that most can see. With praises from a quarterback that was protected by a phenomenal line during his career, Roethlisberger might be seeing flashbacks to those days, which should have Steelers fans excited for this group.
Were you impressed by the Steelers' rookies this season? Can this offensive line be one of the best in the NFL in the next few years? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
